Unsolicited Advice

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Inspired by my own magnanimous behavior in another thread, I thought it might be a good idea for everyone here to give advice to an imaginary 15-year-old who has passing familiarity with austrian economics. Assume that you want to help this individual succeed (in a value-free science, you need to specify an end). What would you tell this young person (male or female or one of each, or gender-neutral) about school, work, getting along and getting ahead?

I mean that if I asked austrians for advice without mentioning that it should be advice on how to succeed, there is no telling what I would get back. It could have been advice on how to pwn professors in their own classes, for instance.

Don't go into deep debt as it forces you onto a certain path (ie: college loans; corporate rat-race).

Try to become very good at a location-non-specific skill, like say programming or writing, if you want to join a libertarian seastead or something :P SM could do like a documentary on some seastead, that would be boss.

Fuck the world. With the most open mind, study everything you can, and never believe anything before studying several alternatives. Even then, always accept that whatever you believe is simply the best wrong answer you've encountered. Find the common thread between people who are satisfied on the one hand, and people who can have anything they want on the other, then devote every ounce of energy in everything you think and do toward spinning that thread in your life.

Remember that you are nothing to the universe or the long term course of homo sapiens, and your impact on the incalculable and unending suffering of homo sapiens will be negligable at best. So live—relentlessly—toward expanding your power and pleasure, and the pleasure of those you care about, and be humbled when your actions relieve the suffering of people who have no apparent value to you.

[EDIT] And alluding to what anenome said in regards to saving, and to be more relevant to economics per se: recognize the value of resources and remember that every single decision in your life that you're consciously aware of builds your personality and defines your future. Old habits die hard. And time is the most precious resource next to other humans. You don't get time back, so always spend it in the way that will best provide for you in the future.

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect.
—Mark Twain

School: avoid as much as possible. Study practical stuff that can actually make you money. Don't go to college. Don't borrow money to finance your education.

Work: Never complain. Never throw anyone under the bus. Don't attack anyone, but vigorously defend yourself if needed. Try to learn more and more stuff, so that you'll become indispensable. Be flexible and modest.

Getting along: Get some code of ethics and live by it. Be prepared to pay a price for sticking to your principles. Make sure your "principles" aren't stupid ego trips, but important things.

Getting ahead: Live within your means. Save money, even a little every pay, and buy junk silver with the dough.

Staying fit: Get a copy of Starting Strength, and do what it says to the letter.

General Advice: Life really sucks for almost everyone at some point, loved ones dying, dysfunctional families, various diseases and heartbreaks. So remember this and be compassionate. You are the world's kindly big brother. if you feel like that, you have risen to great moral heights.

Learn about humility. It means you have no obligation to be anything special. You are who you are, and that's the way it is. If you really grasp this, it is very relaxing.

Always trust your own thinking. Sometimes it won't be very good, but don't just toss it aside for anyone else's. Everyone you meet will subtly imply that you aren't your own authority in countless ways. Think about this regularly and turn back to yourself.

School: avoid as much as possible. Study practical stuff that can actually make you money. Don't go to college. Don't borrow money to finance your education.

Tell this to my parents.

Do good in school, but becareful to not become brainwashed, keep those grades up, that means your parents will bich less at you and you will have a happier life with your parents, and possibly gain a good reputation with them.

“Since people are concerned that ‘X’ will not be provided, ‘X’ will naturally be provided by those who are concerned by its absence.""The sweetest of minds can harbor the harshest of men.”

Try to enter the capitalist class, even if only a little bit. If you are going to buy a house, consider buying a two family and renting out one of the floors. Then later in life if you decide to move to a single family house, you have property that is making you some cash. Just an example. One could do any number of things. Obviously this doesn't apply to a 15 year old, but if you make it a long term goal, you can come up with short term goals. For instance, if you are fortunate enough to be middle class where you don't need to work during the summer, work anyway. Scoop ice cream at an ice shop or whatever. Do that when you are 15 and keep doing it and save that money.

I started doing that sort of thing after high school, because I thought to myself, "Why work when my parents will take care of me?" Well, don't think like that. The only reason ever to bum off of your parents is because you are somehow using that time to secure your future prospects, and that time you get will lead to what you want. Otherwise, don't even consider it.

Try to enter the capitalist class, even if only a little bit. If you are going to buy a house, consider buying a two family and renting out one of the floors. Then later in life if you decide to move to a single family house, you have property that is making you some cash. Just an example. One could do any number of things. Obviously this doesn't apply to a 15 year old, but if you make it a long term goal, you can come up with short term goals. For instance, if you are fortunate enough to be middle class where you don't need to work during the summer, work anyway. Scoop ice cream at an ice shop or whatever. Do that when you are 15 and keep doing it and save that money.

My mother bought a small house that she would rent out to someone.

She said she would transfer the ownership into my name when i get older. Ive worked on the house (installing blinds, etc, maintenance), but im not too enthusiastic about it since its not something I earned.

“Since people are concerned that ‘X’ will not be provided, ‘X’ will naturally be provided by those who are concerned by its absence.""The sweetest of minds can harbor the harshest of men.”

You are lucky if she will do that for you. No one "earns" gifts or an inheritance. But so what? Use it to earn more. Besides, if she transfers it to you, you can rest assured that you will have to do the upkeep. You will certainly feel like you've earned it then.

Besides, if she transfers it to you, you can rest assured that you will have to do the upkeep. You will certainly feel like you've earned it then.

One of the first things I do when I move into a new place is clean it really well. Afterwards I have a much stronger sense of it being my place and a desire to keep it up. Sort of like homesteading to initially acquire property, one is encouraged to upkeep property one feels ownership of (or else sell it).

If I could just get the quoting to work, I wouldn't be so frustrated. Preview shows different than what the final post shows, which adds to my frustration. phpBB, where are you?

@Blargg: You must be new round these parts. Forum software has been hopelessly broken for years. We've complained. We've staged coups. There are two or three "alternate LvMI forums" that are being maintained on free forum hosting sites. One of these days, a Moses will rise and lead us all out of Egypt and into a promised land, flowing with milk and honey and a working quote feature and post previews.... someday.

Do what you most want to do and do it with total abandon. Do it like this guy climbed rocks and did jumps:

If you fail, as long as you're still alive, don't give up and just go right back to it. Our culture seeks to infuse the person who fails at something with overwhelming guilt and depression. Just ignore it and keep going.